Now that you’re spending at least four months in Walt Disney World, you have an incredible chance to explore all the holiday magic the parks have to offer!
Having participated in a fall program, the holidays were definitely the highlights of my time in Disney and would love to share some traditions I participated in or heard about:
Halloween
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 
Only the best Halloween party you’ll ever attend! This party embraces the softer, sillier side of Halloween with all of your favorite characters, incredible Halloween fireworks that surround Magic Kingdom and the best parade Disney has ever created with the catchiest music and the best characters.
So gather your roommates or co-cast, think of a fun group costume theme and go trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom! It’s a blast! Attending a Not So Scary party is essential on a fall program. Plus, cast gets discount tickets the first month of the parties!
Candy, Candy, Candy!
Put out candy in front of your apartment or bring some to your work location! This is a great way to make some holiday magic outside of your job. Every holiday at Disney can be a little hectic so spreading some holiday cheer is a great way to make friends and know you’ve made a fellow cast members day.
Thanksgiving
Holiday-Themed Merchandise
This goes for any holiday, but there is some really cool holiday merch out and about and available for a limited time.
Cast gets a 40% holiday discount so there is no excuse for not buying some fantastic merchandise to help you celebrate every holiday in Disney style!
Disney Family Potluck
Invite some of your co-cast or keep in just among your roomies, but go all out and have an incredible feast! It could be making all Disney treats, a holiday dinner at a nice on-property restaurant or just some pre-made stuff from Publix, but here is your chance to give thanks with your friends at Disney.
Thanksgiving Dress-Up
Go to the parks dressed as the famous Disney turkey legs or pilgrims! It’s a fun idea to celebrate with some friends and be silly in the name of being away from your families during the holidays. But who am I kidding, you guys work at Disney so you’re obviously open to being pretty silly in the first place.
Bonus points if you make really cute turkey Mickey ears!
Christmas
Secret Santa
Draw your friends’ or roommates’ names from a bowl and get them something nice for under $20! You’ll be away from your families so it’ll be fun to carry on holiday gift-giving traditions with your friends. Plus it’s really fun to guess who your secret Santa is! My roommates and I did Secret Santa and had a blast deciding what to get each other and pretending to be oblivious as to who our Santa was.
Stockings
Instead of Secret Santa, every roommate can get something small for each other and place the gift in a stocking. If you’re really close with your roommates and want to give something to everyone, this is perfect. It’s so fun to wake up on Christmas with a stocking, even if you’re not with your family.
Personalize An Ornament
This might be the only opportunity to participate in the Disney College Program, so go ahead and purchase a personalized ornament to celebrate! Having picked up in Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, I can say the artists over there are incredibly talented and are happy to work with you.
To have an ornament personalized, pick out the ornament you’d like (I went with classic Mickey ears) and take it to the two registers inside located closest to the Castle hub. There are several sets of registers in the store but those are the only two at which you can place a personalization order. You’ll fill out a form for information such as your name, details you’d like on the ornament and your requested pick-up time. From there, go have some fun in Magic Kingdom until it’s time to pick up your order.
It can get pretty hectic in Christmas Shoppe around the holidays so I’d recommend going either before the holiday season or arriving earlier in the day to have an earlier pick-up time. Remember, the artists can only personalize on a smooth surface, meaning no glitter or fuzz on the part you’d like personalized.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Cookies, Christmas songs and another fantastic parade? Yes! Mickey’s Very MerryChristmas Party is a blast where you get to have fun wearing shorts this close to Christmas.
Having participated in the fall program, most cast members and Guests said it is not a must-do for fall CPs. Not So Scary is definitely a must-do but the majority of Guests and cast members thought Not So Scary was more enjoyable.
New Years
Watch The Fireworks
If you’re off work at midnight, that is. If you happen to be off work for New Years, watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from a Magic Kingdom resort hotel. The parks are craaaaaazy so you probably want to watch them from a more fun location. My favorite is the Grand Floridian dock in front of Gasperilla’s but the Polynesian beach or Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower bridge are also wonderful spots.
Go Crazy with Party Hats and Streamers
If you and your roommates have to work that night, celebrate before-hand. Blast some fun music, don that glittery party hat and blare those annoying horns! It’ll be close to the end of your program, so you can reminisce with your roommates and friends and sing Auld Lang Syne together. It’ll be emotional, but it’ll be great.
Warning to those working in Magic Kingdom: Christmas’ ‘Silent Night’ is over. On New Year’s Eve, MK doles out horns that will be blowing all night long thanks to excited Guests, particularly children.
What are your favorite holiday traditions at Walt Disney World? Leave a comment or question below with some of your favorite holiday traditions, stories or questions!
Of Mice And Mickey Waffles 